Putter club holder

ABSTRACT

A device for holding a golf putter on a golf bag to facilitate retrieval thereof for use by a player, generally consisting of an elongated member having a length longer than the length of the shaft portion of the putter, insertable in the interior of the bag, having means defining an opening for receiving the shaft portion of the putter therethrough, and providing a surface for resting the head portion of the putter thereon when the shaft portion is inserted through such opening.

This invention relates to a holder for a golf putter and more particularly to such a holder which may be inserted into or onto a golf bag to facilitate access to and convenient retrieval of the putter for use by a player.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Typically, golf clubs including woods, irons and putters are carried in elongated bags usually consisting of a substantially flexible, cylindrical side, a closed bottom end and an open upper end to accommodate the insertion of a set of clubs. Such bags may be carried by the player or a caddy usually by means of a strap provided on the bag, or may be a hauled in a golf cart in playing a round of golf. Whenever a player decides upon the manner in which he or she is to hit a ball in play, he or she selects an appropriate club, retrieves such club from the bag, takes the shot, returns the club to the bag and then proceeds to where the ball lies or the next hole where he or she essentially repeats the same procedure.

Generally, the club compartment of golf bags is sufficiently deep to accommodate wood and iron clubs which generally are of variable lengths and which normally are inserted with their handles down into the bag compartment with the heads thereof extending out of the upper end of the bag. Such arrangement facilitates the access to and retrieval of a particular club when contemplating a shot. Putters, however, usually are of a shorter length than woods and irons which when inserted in golf bags, results in them being less readily accessible and retrievable when sought by a player. Such clubs when inserted in golf bags tend to become entangled with or under, or obstructed by the shafts of the other longer clubs which interferes and complicates their ready retrieval. Accordingly, it is the principal object of the present invention to provide a means for the handy and convenient access to and retrieval of a putter by a player from a conventional golf bag which will not unduly interfere or otherwise adversely affect the tempo of play of the player.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The principal object of the present invention is achieved by providing a device for holding a golf putter in a golf bag generally consisting of an elongated member having a length longer than the length of the shaft of a putter, insertable into the interior of such bag, having means defining an opening for receiving the shaft portion of the putter therethrough, and providing a surface for resting the head portion of the putter thereon when the shaft portion is inserted through such opening. Such a device functions to position the head of the putter at or slightly above the heads of the other clubs carried in the bag which greatly facilitates accessing and retrieving the putter without having to reach down into the bag and locate the putter among the shafts of the other clubs. Preferably, such device is formed of a metallic material such as stainless steel, has portions coated with a cushioning material such as rubber so as not to damage any portion of the bag or the putter and to facilitate the gripping of the bag, and certain forms of retaining devices can be provided on the device and the putter for securing the putter on the holding device. In another embodiment of the invention, the device is provided with an inverted, U-shaped section including a bight portion seatable on the edge of the upper opening of the bag, a first leg portion insertable in the bag opening when the bight portion is seated on the opening edge of the bag, a second leg portion disposable on the exterior of the bag when the bight portion is seated on the open edge, and means disposed on the second leg portion defining an opening for receiving the shaft portion of the putter therethrough and providing a surface for resting the head portion of the putter thereon when the shaft portion is inserted through the opening. Such second embodiment may be either mounted on the side wall of the golf bag or simply inserted within the bag, supported on the bottom thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention shown mounted on a conventional golf bag and holding a conventional putter;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention which may be used in conjunction with the golf bag shown in FIG. 1, and which is shown with a putter carried thereon; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a still further embodiment of the present invention, having portions thereof broken away, which also is adapted to be used with a golf bag as shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, there is illustrated a golf bag 10, a putter 11 and a putter holding device 12 comprising an embodiment of the invention. Bag 10 is of a conventional construction consisting of an elongated, substantially cylindrical side wall member 13, closed at the bottom as at 14 to provide an elongated compartment 15 opening at the upper end thereof and defined by an upper edge 16 of the side wall member. The bag may be provided with several pockets such as pockets 17 and 18 for holding other accessories of a user including balls, tees, towels, rain gear and the like, and is formed of any suitable but flexible and sturdy material such as leather, cloth or other synthetic materials. Compartment 15 is intended to receive and hold a set of clubs including woods and irons, and has a depth sufficient to permit such clubs to be inserted into the compartment with the handle ends thereof at the bottom of the compartment, and the heads thereof extending out of the upper open end of the bag for easy access to and retrieval by the player. Putter 11 also is of a conventional construction including an elongated shaft section 19 having a padded, gripping end portion 20 and a head section 21 disposed at an angle relative to the shaft section. The putter, having a length substantially shorter than the wood and iron clubs, is not intended to be carried in compartment 15 with the other clubs where it might become entangled and/or obstructed by the other longer clubs but is carried by device 12 on the outer side of the bag in the manner as shown in FIG. 1.

Device 12 consists of an elongated, U-shaped section 30, a ring shaped retainer section 31 disposed at an upper end thereof and a cup-shaped section 32 disposed on section 30 and spaced from retainer member 31. U-shaped section 30 includes a bight portion 33, an elongated leg portion 34 and a shorter leg portion 35. Cup section 32 is disposed in alignment with retainer section 31 and is supported on a lower end segment 36 of leg portion 35. U-shaped section 30 may be formed of a metallic rod material such as stainless steel and the like, and is bent to provide the various portions thereof with leg portion 34 having a length substantially the depth of compartment 15, leg portion 35 having a length shorter than leg portion 34 and bight portion 33 having a length greater than the thickness of side wall 13 of bag 10 so that device 12 can be mounted on bag 10 with leg portion 34 received within compartment 15, bight portion 33 overlapping and resting on upper bag edge 16 and leg portion 35 lying along the outer side of the bag side wall, as shown in FIG. 1. Retainer ring section 31 and support cup section 32 not only are aligned but are spaced a certain distance apart so that the shaft portion of putter may be inserted through retainer ring section 31 and into cup section 32 with the head section thereof resting on ring section 31 to permit the putter to be carried on the bag. Retainer ring section 31 and support cup section 32 may be formed of the same material as U-shaped section 30 and may be secured thereto by any suitable means. Preferably, such sections also would be formed of a metallic material and welded or otherwise secured to leg portion 35.

In the use of device 12 for holding putter 11, leg portion 34 is simply inserted into compartment 15 through the upper end thereof so that bight portion 33 is caused to rest on upper wall edge 16 and leg portion 35 lies along the outer side of the bag. The putter may then be mounted on the device by simply inserting the handle end of the putter through retainer section 31 and guiding it downwardly into cup section 32. Although the preferred method of mounting the device on bag 10 is as described, alternatively, the device may be simply inserted in its entirety within compartment 15. When so inserted within compartment 15, the head of the putter will be sufficiently adjacent the upper, open end of the bag to facilitate access to and retrieval of the putter by simply grasping the head portion thereof and withdrawing it from compartment 15.

FIG. 3 illustrates a device 40 comprising another embodiment of the invention. The device consists simply of an elongated rod section 41 having a length similar to and preferably greater than the depth of compartment 50, and a ring retaining section 42 disposed on an upper end thereof. Elongated rod section 41 may be formed of any sturdy material, preferably a stainless steel material, and retainer section 42 similarly may be formed of a sturdy material, usually the same material as section 41, and is secured thereto by any suitable means including welding. The diameter of the opening of ring section 42 is sufficient to receive therethrough the shaft portion 43 of a putter 44, and the diameter of ring section 42 is sufficient to permit head section 45 of the putter to be supported thereon as shown in FIG. 3.

In the use of device 40 to hold putter 44, rod section 40 of the device is simply inserted in compartment 15 of bag 10 with the lower end thereof resting on the bottom wall of the bag and the upper end thereof resting against the inner side of the side wall of the bag with retainer ring section 42 thus disposed slightly below, at the level of or slightly above upper edge 16 of the bag. Putter 44 then simply is inserted in retainer ring section 42 and lowered into compartment 15 until the head portion engages and rests on the ring section. With device 40 thus inserted in bag 10 and putter 44 supported on the device within the bag, the putter may easily be accessed and retrieved by a player by simply gripping the head portion of the putter and lifting it out of the bag.

To prevent any possible damage to the interior surfaces of the bag by either of the embodiments as described, portions of such devices may be coated with a padding material such as rubber or a resilient polymer. As shown in FIG. 3, the lower end of rod section 41 may be coated with a rubber material as at 46 and the opposite end of such section and/or retainer ring section 42 may be coated with a rubber material as at 47. Portions of device 12 also may be coated with a padding material including the lower ends of leg sections 34 and 35 and possibly the upper ends of such portions and bight portion 33.

A modification of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 is shown in FIG. 4. Such modification comprises a device 50 which is similar in construction and use to device 40 and is adapted to hold a putter 51. The device includes an elongated rod section 52 and a retainer ring section 53 through which shaft portion 54 of putter 51 may be inserted to rest head section 55 of the putter on ring 53. To secure the putter on device 50 with the shaft section thereof extending through retainer ring section 53 and head section 55 seated on the retainer ring section, small patches of releasable, inter-cooperating materials 56 and 57 may be used. Patch set 56 consists of a patch 56 a provided on the shaft section of device 50 adjacent the retainer ring section thereof, and a patch 56 b secured to a base portion of head section 55 of the putter which releasably interlock to secure the putter to the shaft section of the device. Patch set 57 consists of a patch 57 a provided on a portion of the retainer ring section 53 which is adapted to releasably interlock with patch 57 b provided adjacent the end of head section 55 of the putter. It will be appreciated that when the shaft section of the putter is inserted through the retainer ring section of device 50, patch 56 b is pressed against patch 56 a and patch 57 b is pressed against patch 57a, the putter will be firmly but releasably secured to retainer 50. In removing the putter from device 50, the player need only grip the putter head and apply a small amount of force to disengage the patches holding the putter to device 50. Preferably, the retainer patches are formed of a material sold under the trademark VELCRO which may be applied in small patches on the putter and holding device, preferably by an adhesive. The small amount of such patch material and the positioning of such patches on the putter is not deemed to materially adversely affect the use of the putter.

With the use of any of the embodiments of the invention as described, a golfer should be able to readily access and retrieve his or her putter without rummaging through his or her golf bag to locate it, thus accommodating his or her play and possibly improving his or her performance.

From the foregoing detailed description, it will be evident that there are a number of changes, adaptations and modifications of the present invention, which come within the province of those persons having ordinary skill in the art to which the aforementioned invention pertains. However, it is intended that all such variations not departing from the spirit of the invention be considered as within the scope thereof as limited solely by the appended claims. 

1. A device for holding a golf putter on a golf bag to facilitate retrieval thereof for use comprising an elongated member having a length longer than the length of the shaft portion of said putter, insertable into the interior of said bag, having means defining an opening for receiving the shaft portion of said putter therethrough, and providing a surface for resting the head portion of said putter thereon when said shaft portion is inserted through said opening.
 2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the length of said member is greater than the depth of the interior of said bag.
 3. A device according to claim 1 wherein said member is made of a metallic material.
 4. A device according to claim 3 wherein at least one of an end segment of said member and said opening defining means is coated with a cushioning material
 5. A device according to claim 4 wherein said coating material is rubber.
 6. A device according to claim 1 wherein said elongated member includes an elongated rod section having a length longer than the shaft portion of said putter, and said opening defining means comprises a loop section connected to an end of said rod section, lying in a plane disposed substantially perpendicular to said rod section.
 7. A device according to claim 6 wherein said member comprises a continuous, elongated rod providing a rectilinear section and a looped section at one end of said rectilinear section.
 8. A device according to claim 6 wherein said member comprises an elongated rod section and a looped section secured to an end of said rod section.
 9. A device according to claim 6 wherein said member is formed of a metallic material.
 10. A device according to claim 9 wherein at least one of the ends of said rod section and said looped section are coated with a cushioning material.
 11. A device according to claim 1 including means for detachably securing a putter received through said opening and resting on said opening defining means.
 12. A device according to claim 11 wherein said detachably securing means comprises a patch of VELCRO material cooperable with a similar material provided on said putter.
 13. A device according to claim 12 wherein a patch of said securing material is disposed on said rod section of said member which cooperates with a patch of said securing material disposed on the shaft portion of said putter when said putter is supported on said member.
 14. A device according to claim 12 wherein said patch of said securing material is disposed on said looped section of said member which cooperates with a patch of said securing material disposed on the head portion of said putter when said putter is supported on said member.
 15. A device for holding a golf putter on a golf bag to facilitate retrieval thereof for use, comprising an inverted, U-shaped section including a bight portion seatable on the edge of an upper opening of said bag, a first leg insertable in said bag opening when said bight portion is seated on said opening edge, a second leg portion disposable on the exterior of said bag when said bight portion is seated on said opening edge, and means disposed on said second leg portion defining an opening for receiving the shaft portion of said putter therethrough and providing a surface for resting the head portion of said putter thereon when said shaft portion is inserted through said opening.
 16. A device according to claim 15 wherein the length of said first leg section is not greater than the depth of said bag opening.
 17. A device according to claim 15 including means disposed on the free end of said second leg section upon which an end of said shaft portion may rest when said shaft portion is inserted through said opening. 